Photo Tips

Planning Your Wardrobe

Your clothes say a lot about you in a photography -- or can be used to create an image of yourself that you're trying to project.  Whether you're trying to create a professional portrait or just have fun, clothes play a big role!

Clothing is as personal as you are. The guidelines below are intended to give you a sense for planning for a shoot. Please don't take these guidelines as a suggestion to change your wardrobe! We want images of you looking like you. But it's important that you understand how clothing affects a photograph.



Please note that these are general guidelines. As with any rules when it comes to art, there are times to break them!

General

  • Solids are usually preferred.  Prints can be used effectively as accents (such as a scarf or border) but in general, they create an overly busy image.
  • Please be sure that your outfits are free of lint and wrinkles and then place them on hangers and cover them.  If you are coming to my studio use a garment bag or even just a large garbage bag to cover your clothes. 
  • Avoid packing clothing into a suitcase -- but they are great to transport shoes, accessories and other wrinkle-free items.
  • Bring outfits you like!  It may sound like an odd thing to say, but we all have an outfit we think might look better on someone else.  If you're worried about how you look, it will show in the photos.  You want to know you look great!

Props

  • Bring anything you'd like, but think about the purpose of the object in a photograph.  A prop without a reason for being in the image will look like...well, a prop!
  • Jewelry can be a great prop and need not be expensive.  Of course, fine jewelry will look great...but so will most costume jewelry.
  • Clothing itself can make a fun prop.  For example, holding a blazer over your shoulder.

Variety

  • Plan on shooting at least 2, but ideally 3 wardrobe changes.
  • Vary your looks significantly for the best effect.  For example, consider shooting what you might wear to different occassions such as a job interview, wedding reception, a date, shopping, etc.
  • If you intend to change outfits, please be careful of items with elastic bands.  Bands leave marks on your skin that can take more than an hour to fade.  If you will wear an outfit that has elastic in it on an area that other outfits will not cover, we'll shoot it last!